Al Sharpton To Headline Trayvon Martin Rally

SANFORD, Fla. — Al Sharpton is mourning the death of his mother, but the civil rights leader says he is still coming to Florida to lead a rally for an unarmed black teen killed by a neighborhood watch captain.

Sharpton said Thursday on Twitter that he is on a flight to Florida for the rally at the First Shiloh Baptist Church in Sanford. The rally is being held following the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last month.

Martin was shot by a neighborhood watch captain who has claimed he acted in self-defense. The neighborhood watch captain hasn’t been arrested, and the case is being reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office.

Sharpton’s 87-year-old mother, Ada, died early Thursday. Sharpton says his mother would have wanted him to attend the rally.